Prepping again for the wakie resale....

Man I love this time of year.  I have been spending the last two weeks pricing gently used toys and clothes for the Wakarusa Children's resale.  I love that this sale provides an amazing place for our community to find gently used, in great condition children's clothes, and every other accessory your child may need.  My favorite items for the fall sale are the shoes and winter coat selection.  Last spring I got fall I got shoes coats, and half the winter clothes I needed (only because I had no idea how a normal child grew) for 120 dollars.  that also included a few toys for each too. 

you can click on the this or wakie resale link on the right side bar on my blog to see pictures through out this week of what they are offering this year. 


Can't wait to see the great finds This year. 

Chaos Part One

 We had just moved all of our stuff to our basement to start a family room playroom minor remodel.  A little paint some recovered couches and some new storage for the kids toys.  We also had planned on moving the kids into their own rooms this fall.  We were all super excited when this happened.  Adrian had found some water in our basement carpet one night by finding both kids with wet butts....we cleaned it up and didn't think much of it until the next day when I was trying to clean up a mess about 10x as big.  Adrian spent the afternoon (yes I called him home from work) and evening investigating and cleaning up the mess.  However we were not able to get the water out of the carpet even with a shop vac.  So we called our insurance and made a claim.  They came out in just a few hours to investigate and decided that we needed to have the concrete dried out and the carpet removed.  They on that friday afternoon....brought in 5 industrial fans, a dehumidifier and an air scrubber.  Lets just say WIND TUNNEL....I felt as though we were living in one.  WE had the tv maxed out on volume that night and we still couldn't really hear it.  So instead of watching tv we decided to start a project that we were going to avoid, but since we were getting rid of the carpet anyway...why not right?  So we shipped the kiddos to grandmas and started this:

 it started one by one

 and turned into this....unfortunately I forgot that my scrapping room and glass jars were on the other side of this wall.  Oh well...I can recycle a few more in the new craft room/office that will be upstairs. 

 I enjoyed the swinging of the sledge hammer....I didn't enjoy the 50 5 gallon bucket loads of bricks that I carried or the war wound I now have...but I gotta say it looks so much better and we don't have an external wall in our family room/playroom anymore.  Which I would like to exclaim with elation that I LOVE!!! 

and we did gain about two feet of room too.  and the fireplace actually looks more like a focal point.  I would show you a picture of it drywalled...but I kinda did something before Adrian was ready for me to do it...so that will have to wait.  But we are in full painting mode...well that was until we (the weather) broke our air conditioner.  we had a 90 degree house with about 200 % humidity for the last two weeks.  this is not ideal for painting.....the walls were tacky still last friday when we got back from Indy and we had painted them on wednesday.  So we are in stand still mode until the furnace/air conditioner/vent work all gets done. 

I keep trying to focus on the room that we will have and not the drastic amount of money it is going to cost.  

Trauma on the school front

Today marked a monumental moment in my baby boys life.  His true first day of pre-school.  The day started off slowly and pretty shakey.  when he woke up all he could do was cry.  Not sure what was wrong we got some breakfast, watched an episode of Handy Manny and began to talk more about where he got to go today.  We talked about singing songs, playdough, circle time, the kitchen that his teacher has in his room....all prepping the little guy for what definitely wouldn't be the most traumatizing experience in his life, but something mommy will remember as being a not so happy one. 



I have done some challenging things in my life so far with Jackson.  I have watched him leave me after only being with him for a few hours, carried him off to surgery at a couple days old and continue to do so as is needed, but today.  Today was a different type of difficult.  Today was optional.  Not something I have dealt with before.  HE was so excited to get out of the car and put on his backpack.  So excited for everything, until the teachers came out to get him and he grasped my leg and began to scream as I told him I loved him and he would have so much fun with Miss Charlene.  As I grabbed Avenlea and walked away the screams were so loud....I am sure louder to me than to anyone else in the parking lot.  As Avenlea and I began to drive away, I started to question our decision for sending him to preschool this year.  But then I remembered his excitement about going to school for the past three months and that today was only the realization that he had to do it by himself.  I am sure this week, and possibly next week too, are going to be a little emotional and difficult.  But when I look at how far he has come and what he has been through, I find total Joy in thinking about what he will be continuing to share with me as he learns more and more at school. 

Happy Birthday to The toughest guy I know.....

So today, August 10th, my baby boy turns three!!!  HE has accomplished so much in his three years.  I actually thought through it all today.

28 Days in the Riley NICU
3 GI (butthole) surgeries

a gaping hole in his abdomen from the nastiest infection I have every seen
3 hip surgeries

1 back surgery
failure to thrive
Multiple tests from CT scans, xrays, MRI, EKG, EEG, Cinta scans...too many for one little boy.

one urinary tract infection resistant to three antibiotics
two hospital stays due to the flu ( and during everyone he keeps those nurses on there toes.  that is his heart monitor lead in his hand as he is laughing) 

three blood transfusions (not including ones used during surgery)

G-tube surgery
a set of SMO braces

circumcision and reconstruction down there
-6 vision in both eyes requiring glasses
two cases of the HIVES
 one dentist visit

and what can he do:
swings a bat like a pro
eats some food....even says he is hungry.  WOW I need to just sit with that one for a moment.  What a HUGE accomplishment.  

loves to fix things and make things with daddy especially when it includes tools

loves on his baby sister

walks up and down the stairs
climbs in and out of his own bed
stands up in the middle of a room
can walk acrossed our backyard and pick veggies from our garden
loves to pick up his feet and giggle as he races down our drive way on his big trike
yells at the TV with daddy when there is a good hit or play during a white sox game
touches gooey thing and play dough and has a good time
 loves to color and paint pictures for our frig
enjoys cooking
loves when he gets to feed his dog Macy.  or as he calls her "My MaeMae"
these are just a few of the many things he does.  

As I thought through everything that the doctors said he might never do, I am so proud at what he has accomplished by the young age of three.  My baby boy is who he is because he has fought through what was given to him.  He is one tough and resilient little boy.   We are so sad to be exiting First Steps and we will dearly miss all of Jackson's therapist that have really become part of our daily life over the last three years.  Man, he wouldn't be where he is with out all of you.  Thank you Cathy, Wendy, Christy and Susan for the amazing work that you have done working with Jackson.  His quality of life has improved so much since we first started with each of you.  As he exits First steps, he also gets to enter a new and exciting new adventure....PreSchool.  ON August 18th, I feel like I loose all control.  Jackson will get on the BUS, yes you heard it right, the BUS and will be off to school.  He will now get three different therapies at school and one maybe two at an outpatient therapy center.  He is super excited for school and to ride the bus.   It will be quite strange in a house with just one again...but it is so cool to see Jackson heading off to school.  Although he still has alot ahead of him when I look at this list I remember just how far he has come so far.

We will have pictures soon of him in his glasses...I am sure it will only up his cuteness factor and of course this craft mom will have off to preschool pics as well.

ok...after starting probably 5 posts and never finishing them.  I am actually going to right a new one to update on our summer.  We have been busy busy busy.  WE started of June with Avenlea's bday party!!!  had a lot of fun and I can say Life is very busy with a three year old and a one year old in my house.  Jackson and avenlea are kinda learning to do some stuff at the same time.  She is talking up a storm and climbing on everything.  The good thing (or bad depending on how you see it) is she doesn't seem to be upset when she falls.  She is quite the character.  Or Bulldozer as we like to call her.  She knows what she wants and will be very persistent at getting it.  I know I know...she gets that honestly too. 

I can't believe my baby boy is turning three in a few days....he is up to know good.  Typical three year old stuff.  THinking mom and dad know nothing and that NO should be his response to everything.  WE have accomplished graduating from first steps, climbing stairs and in two weeks we start preschool.  HE talks a big talk about being excited for going to school.  WE will see on the 18th what really happens.  he is looking and acting more grow up everyday, even though he hasn't changed his size of clothes in a year or more.  I guess that is cheaper...or you start to get sick of all your everyday pictures being in the same clothes.  we did a little test to see how tall he would be when he is 18....he is 31 inches now...anybody want to take a guess? 

Our summer was going so well, we had survived 5 weddings, a break out of the HIVES On the fourth of July and we had decided it was time to get a few projects done.  That is when our air conditioner decided to mal function...well not really the air as much as the drain decided to clog.  Needless to say we had water in our basement right after we moved the family room downstairs.  WE were totally blessed in this minor catastrophe.  nothing but our carpet was ruined and our insurance covers it.  So we are in a whirlwind trying to get the other projects finished before we lay new carpet.  I think I have talked to 6 different heating and cooling people in the last week and three plumbers.  The sad part is the one plumber that has done a bunch of investigating can't seem to find our problem.  That is never a cheap fix.  So all in all we are going to get some new carpet and get a very cozy family room out of the deal.  plus a lot of projects that have been put on the back burner for a long time are now getting done very quickly. 

Then tomorrow I get to celebrate 5 years with my best friend.  5 very full years and some could say difficult, yet I would say we love each other more than ever and we are both better people for what we have been through.  I could imagine spending my life with anyone else!!!  Happy Anniversary Babe!!

Stay tune for progression pics and final pics of the kids kitchen too.  Turned out super cute.....:)

Happy Birthday my sweetie Avenlea

OH my to think last year at this time I was hanging out in triage at the hospital.  I had been leaking fluid all day with no contraction and feeling embarrassed like I had pee'd my pants....continuously.  Especially when the doctor sent me home saying that it wasn't fluid that I was leaking.  It wasn't too hard to figure out that I must have been peeing my pants, right? 

 Well I had a previously scheduled doctor's appointment that I awoke for the next morning and the leakage continued.  I went through two outfits and four heavy duty pads just getting ready that morning.  Either something was very wrong or I was loosing my mind.  ok...even more than you normally do while prego.  Within minutes of meeting with Dr Weaver....I was being scheduled to be admitted.  Sure enough I wasn't loosing my mind, instead we were going to be having a baby.  WE didn't even have a car seat to bring her home in.  Seriously people we had 6 weeks left!!!  Plenty of time for normal people, but not for the Schrock's.  The nurse was at the house watching Jackson, so we sent strangers to her, Ashley and Erin, to our house with their kiddos to distract Jackson and we began the waiting process.  If only I wouldn't have drank that glass of OJ that morning, you would have been born at around 10am...but oh no...we had to wait til the afternoon.  Good thing too.  If any of this would have been an emergency, things would have gotten life changing for this mama.  God had a plan that once again I didn't understand, but I trusted.  Our sweet baby girl was born 2:59.  Weighing in at 4 lbs 11oz and measuring 17 inches long.  She had a little trouble learning to eat.  But she was breathing great and had all necessary organs and orifices.  She was beautiful and healthy.

 We were shocked at how quickly she caught on to breathing, eating and holding up her temp.  She spent exactly 14 days in the NICU.  Even though we were not happy to be back here, we can't tell you how much better it was to be local and around friends and family.  Recovery was so much smoother and it was a heavenly to recover in my own bed. 

 it was enjoyable to watch her grow and develop.  I won't lie, it took a lot to get used to two.  Everything was much more complicated, especially when Jackson wasn't walking or even standing on his own.  I know see why all of you wait until they are developmentally two years apart.  However now I wouldn't change it.  they are so adorable to watch play together. 

 at about 8 months....the above picture we started to see personality and it has never stopped.  She is such a ham.  WE get looks like the below one, even when she is being disciplined.  *for those of you that thought I got a way easy with the first one behavior wise, watch out Avenlea is going to give us a run for our money*

 I am pretty sure we wouldn't change her.  Her personality is what makes her so special to us.  you may have to remind me of this when she is in her teenage rebellion.  She began walking about a month ago.  She is still pretty unsteady at times...but she easily is able to follow her brother around the house, to his dismay at times.  She even decided one day that she could tackle the stairs.  It isn't on odd occasion to see her standing on something in a second.  She is much quicker than Jackson was and is very quickly catching up to his physical development.  HOwever it is fun to watch him step in up a notch when she shows she can do what he can do.  In this case a little sibling rivalry is a good thing. 

 WE have made it to one.  The other day we went in for Avenlea's wicked cough...found out she had a sinus infection...didn't know lil' ones could get these.  However....for those of us, yes I am including myself, that thought she was slimming out...Sorry folks...she is 22 lbs 12 ounces and 30 inches tall.  (Jackson 24 lbs 2 ounces and 31 and a 1/4 inches tall)  We are still in the 75 percentile for both height and weight.  She still has her rolls and wheres them well.  She is jibbering and jabbering.  Occasionally, we hear words that sound like something we have said but no distinct or identifiable words yet, however we know she has alot to say.  She is still sporting just the two teeth and is developing a curly mullet, (thank you Grandma Gloria for the curl).  

We are so delighted to watch our baby girl grow.  She is a delight more often than a terror and come on...with that face she is a delight even as a terror.  Hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane.  Happy Birthday Avenlea Gayle. 

We love you!!!

Well I realized I have a bunch of posts that i have partially written and never posted.  Oh well...maybe they will be come important again...WE have to do a May wrap-up do to my lack of blogging this month.  So here goes. 
the beginning of May we started out with a rainy and cold weekend...but we began working our garden this weekend.  Due to starting it from scratch, we had to get compost and other things to spice up the soil.  SO far so good.  We also had our first night out to dinner with the kiddos.  Gotta say this isn't so enjoyable.  Adrian and I got to say one sentence to each other the entire time we were there.  I guess you could say it was father son time and mother daughter time.  However i think we decided the take-out route is the way to go.  (No pictures of this we were simply too busy).

the next week we had Jackson's preschool evaluation.  We met with the schools speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist and his teacher.  IT was great to meet the people he will be working with over the next year.  By sending him to the PACE program, he will get to focus on his therapies at the same time as going to school.  This way we will have a better Idea of what he will need to be successful in school.  This was an agonizing decision.  Tears were shed and lots of discussions were had over what we believed to be the least restrictive environment.  I do know from my time working with the Goshen schools that things can be adjusted at all times.  So we will keep our eyes on what is going on and keep in contact with the teacher, to see where we go as the school year progresses.  It is strange to think that I will now be scheduling things around my kiddo going to school.  CRAZY!!  as if we weren't busy enough.  ;)

the weekend of the 15th we planted our garden.  We planted seeds for everything in short rows.  We have a very different looking garden, but those of you that know my hubby, know it was very planned out and researched.  It was nice to finally have a plan and start planting.  WE planted zucchini, cucumbers, yellow squash and two types of peas....all trellised.  THen we planted four rows of beans, onions, beets, carrots, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes and peppers.  We are watching it grow with great anticipation.  WE are also learning things about bugs and all sorts of bird predators along the way.  Hoping and praying we will have some results after all of out hard work.  Time will tell. 

Then the 21st and 22nd we participated in our communities garage sales.  We had some bigger things we wanted to get rid of in order to have space to redo the kids rooms and the basement.  We have a very long to do list for the summer, however we are being patient and trying to accomplish everything on a budget.  Which I say it is successful....we got rid of junk and made money.  that too me = success. 

Then this past weekend we took a trip to Illinois.  We went to see Adrian's grandma.  WE had alot of fun.  Jackson walked for the first time last year at her house, so he had come along way since she had last seen him.  Avenlea was two months old when she was last there...so she was night and day different.  It was fun to watch them interact with her and explore the new terrain.  WE helped her with some things around the house.  She even gave me a huge plastic bag full of thread for my sewing projects.  I couldn't thank her enough.  Some of these threads I don't think I will ever have to buy again.  They are ginormous and much better quality than I would be able to afford.  Can't wait to have time to sit down and use them.  Our trip was a bit of a challenge.  Avenlea was still facing backwards and so everytime we were driving away from the sun it was directed straight into her eyes.  So she screamed the entire time.  So we decided it was time to switch her around thinking that she was 20 lbs and only four days away from being one.   We never had any issue with Jackson, however Avenlea was so tired by the time we left she just wouldn't give up.  She cried for an hour and a half of our trip home.  Since however we have been doing great.  She loves being able to interact with Jackson and with mommy while we are moving.  WE will have to see if this continues on our trip to MN in a couple weeks. 

We really did have a good time.....looking forward to the next visit. 
this brings us to today.  we are finalizing our plans for Avenlea's birthday and prepping for our trip to Riley on friday.  hope you all had a fun month of May.